Steam system.



J. W. GAMBLE. STEAM SYSTEM. APPLICATION PILED 1111 1 24, 1910.

1,012,625.. 1 Patent ed Dec.26,191 1.

I Systems, of which ably utilized in'a steam turbinepecially UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSE??? W. GAMBLE, OF P HILADELPHIlIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0HARRISON SAFETY BOILER \VORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANHL ACOIARTNERSHIP.

STEAM SYSTEM.

T0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Joserif GA-unnn. a citizen of the [*nit ed States.residing in the city and county of Philadelphia .and State-ofPennsylvania; have invented certain new and useful Improvements infiteamthe ,following is a specificatio'n.

This invention relates to steam systems in which areemployed apparatusfor utilizing exhaust-steam from any suitable source, as forinstaneefrom one or more reciprocating engines. Heretofore exhaust steam fromair engine has been-carried to and utilized in a p'rime mover, such as alow-pressure steam tu'rbine-z also, lti-dS'COll'thlOfl to employ-=suchexhaust steam in a feedwater heater for heating'avater which isafterward fed to the boilers supplying steam to the engine. "The presentinvention is directed to the'p'rovisionof a' system in which theexhaust-steam from one or more engines is' enip'loy'ed in part in a.lowpressure prime mover and in part in a feed-water heater or otherheating or drying: system. both of these devices being supplied withsteam from the same source. 'VVhen 'a steam en zine of the reciprocatingtype is" operated without employing a condenser'in the exhaust line; thesteam exhausted from the cylinder is at a pressure considerably aboveatmospheric pressure. This steam passing from the engine, in ad ditionto being'substantially above atmospherio-pressure. is suppliedpractically constantly during the operation of the engine .in an amountdependent; upon the worlt he'- ing done by the enginealt thereforerepres'ents a veriiconsiderable amount of power and this power may hedeveloped by "nu/'- ing the steam iii ile'i ir-esspeeially adapted foruse with loiwpre und steam. Tn such a system, afeed-water heater may beemployed to adi'an age utilising exhaust steam for heat ing water to hereturned to the boilers, hut in manyjjc'ases only a portion of theexhaust steam would be required for this purpose' The remainder of thesteam is therefore available; for other uses and may. he profit designedto operate on low'-pressure steam ln"accordanee with the invention, alowpressure] turbine and a feed-water heater or other heating or dryingdevice are connect-ed to the exhaust of a steam system. as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

Application filed May 24, 1910. Serial No. 563,079.

the exhaust pipes leading fromone or more reciprocating engines, and incombination with these devices, means are employed'for insuring properoperation thereof. The pressure of the steam m the exhaust line changesconsiderably from time to time due to various causes but it is importantthatthe supply of steam to the heater be maintained at all times andunder all conditions. To this end. a source of supply of live steam isconnected to'the heater and provided with automatic controlling devices.whereby the steamsupply is opened whenever the ex- Brs'r AVAILABLE COPYhaust steam supplied to the heater'is insufli cient; \Vhen live steam issupplied to the heater in this manner, it should not be allowed topassthrough the connections for carrying exhaust steam to the heater andthus be utilized in the low-pressure turbine,

as it would be undesirable to-operate that turbine with live steam.Means are therefore provided which operate automaticallyto close. theconnections for carrying exhaust steam to the heater under predeterminedconditions. such closure of the exhaust steam passage occurring at apressure slightly higher than that at which the conne tion for catinglive steam to the heater opens.

The preferred embodimentof the invcm 'tion is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing which shows the'several devices in elevationtogether with the piping connectin: them.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a steam engine whose cylindersexhaust into the exhaust. line 2. The engine here shown is illustrativeonly as it may be of any suitable construction, and usually a number ofengines will be connected to the s ameexhaust line 2. This exhaust pipe2 is connected by a pipe 3 to a low-pressure steam turbine 4 so that aportion of the exhaust steam is carried to thelurhine 4 to operate thelatter, the turbine delivering power in any suitable manner, as by meansof a gear 5 on the. shaft thereof. An oil separator 6 is connected inthe, pipe leading to the turbine so as to clear the steam of water,cylinder oil and other foreign substances. A

' branch'p'ipe7 leading from the exhaust pipe 2 also carries steam to afeed-water heater 8. This heater may be of any suitable construction andof either the open or closed type so that the steam is mingled with orcarried adiacent to the incomimv water and ''nnsncl to impart'its heatthereto. I'have shown a heater of large size. to contain a substantialquantity of heated' water; it is provided with an oil separator 9through which. the steam passes to the heater and a trap 10 forcarryingoff to waste oil andexcess water. When the oil separator 6 islocated as shown, the separator 9 may be omitted and when the separator9 is provided as shown attached to the wall of the heater, the separator6 maybe placed in the pipe 3 between pipe 7 and the turbine 4. Theheater 8 is provided with an exhaust pipe 18 in which I is a reliefvalve 11, and also with either a thermostatic or a manually-operatedvent 12 for permitting the escape of air. from the heater& In the pipe 7leading to the heater 8 is a-pre ssure-reducing valve 13 set to re-{duce the pressure of the steam flowing through it to a predeterminedpoint so that this steam may be safely utilized in the heater 8 and willgive the desired heating of the. water therein.- Furthermore, thispressure-reducing valve 13 is'so constructed that it-will close when thepressure in pipe 7 falls below a predetermined point. If desired,however, thesetwo functions of reducing the pressure of the steam andclosing the passage 7 need not both be placed upon the valve 13;instead, that valve may be used as a pressure-reducing valve solely anda separate check-valve 19 may be provided in pipe 7 for closing thatpassage when the pressureof the steam flowing therein falls below thatdesired for the steam-to be admitted to'the heater 8. Furthermore, ifthe heater 8 be of sufficient strength and the relief-valve 11 thereofbe properly adjusted, the pressure-reducing valve 13 maybe dispensedwith and the cheek-valve 19 only employed, the latter being arranged toclose pipe 7 when the. pressure therein drops to a predetermined point.A pipe 14 leads from a source of supply of live steam to the pipe 7 at apoint in the latter between the heater 8 and valve 13 and in this pipe14is a pressure-reducing valve 15 which reduces .water in the heater maylie-employed.

Such a system as that above described may be operated with the engineexhausting steam at a. pressure of ten pounds per square inch and thissteam will pass through the, pipes 253 =and 7 to {the turbine 4 and-lreater 8. The valve lfl' may be set to reduce the pressure of thesteam passingtherethrough and through pipe 7 to heater 8 to three poundsso that however the pressure the steam entering the heater 8 throughpipe 7 will never be above three pounds pressure.

in the construction of the heater 8 since. the latter will not besubjected to fan excessive pressure. heater, the relief valve 11 in theexhaust outlet 18 may be set to open on a. pressure ofiour pounds withinthe heater, in which of five pounds with entire safety.

.pipe 7 falls below that desired for the steam to be used in the heater8, the pipe T will be automatically closed by the check-valve), Thus,this valve may be so set that it will pound. The closure of pipe in thisway in cuts off the heater from the exhaust line.

The adjustments of these valves should be such that valve 15 Wlll openimmediately sure in the exhaust. line rises at any time, the -valve 13will be automatically opened and the exhaust steam will pass into theheater, raising the pressure therein, and this inclose it so that thesupply of live steam will not be drawn on for a longer time than isnecessary. Itwill thus'be'seen that in the such extent as is requiredfor that purpose amount is utilized in the'turbine 4 to the velop power;that if ever the supply of exhaust steam falls below that necessary forheating purposes in heater 8, live steam will be automatically supplied"to the heater to maintain the temperature of the watertherein; that thesupply of-live-stemn wilt-be out steam again becomes capable of properlyheating the water in the heater; andthat of air therein from the heaterthrough the steam connection between them by the provision of either orboth the valve which closes that connection whenthe pressure thereinfalls hel'ow a pi'cdctcrtpined-point,

pressuirs mentioned above at which the sysof the exhaust steam in pipe 2may vary,

' Ii this be done, an economy will be. ossible As a further protectionfor the case the heater may be constructed with a view to'withstanding amaximum pressure close when the pressure in pipe 7 falls to one responseto a fall of the pressure therein The supply of steam to the heater 8will,' however, be maintained at all times for I when the cheek-valve 19closes, live steam" will be admitted to the heater through the 4 ,pipe14 due to the opening of valve 15 when i the pressure on the sidethereof toward 'the' heater drops below a predetermined point.

the turbine is protected against the entrance When the pressure of thesteam flowing in i after valve \19 has closed. Whenth'e prescrease ofpressure-acting on valve 15 will 10a system described, the exhaust steamis utilized in heating the feed-water in heater 8 toand that the surplusof steam above that its off automatically as soon as the exhaust and themeans Tonniaiutuiuiug the sppply of stoamto the. heatermateralt-sandstone: it will of course he understood that the tcm isoperated and at which-the valves open live steam is;bcing supplied tothe heater through pipe 14. In this case, it may be necessary toconstruct the heater so that it is capable of withstanding agreater pressure, that is, the maximum pressure that would be carried in the exhaustmain 2' under normal operation of the system. If the pressure in theheater ever exceeded this, it would be relieved by the valve 11 and itthe pressure inpipe 7 tell to or below atmospheric pressure, thecheck-valve 19 would close- It will be seen that the supply of steam tothe heater is maintained at all times, this steam being exhauststeamwhen such stealnat the proper pressure is available and-live-steam atother times. In this way, not only is proper operation of the heater atall times insured, but furthermore during such operation in the mannerdescribed, air cannot gather in the heater, which air might be .drawnthrough pipes T and 3 and into the low-pressureturbine and causeinefficient. operation of the turbine.

These and other departures from the construction and operation of thesystem as above described may be made while still retaining theinvention and such modifications I aim to include Within the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low pressure primemover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, a. livesteam connection to thehe.at'cr,a.' valve therein opening automatically when the pressure inthe heater falls to a predeg termined point, and a valve in theconnection for carrying the exhaust steam to the heater, which valvecloses automatically when the pressure within said connection isslightly higherthan that at which the valve in the livcsteam connectionopens, substantially as set forth.

2. In a steam systenn'the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, a live-steam connection to the heat r, avalve therein operated autoumtically under predetermined conditions, anda valve in the Stejim passageway lmtwern the heater andeaid prime-moveroperated automatically under predetermined conditions, sub

stantially as set forth.

3. 111a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover-and a heaterconnected to the exhaust 'line, a live-steam connection't'o the heater,

means for automatically closing and opening said connection, and means,for closing the exhaust-steam connection to the heater when the saidlive-steam connection open, substantially as set forth. 4

4. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure .prime 30 mover and aheater connected to the exhaust line, a live-steam connection to theheater, means for automatically closing and open-- ing said connection,and means forclosing the exhaust-steam connection to the heater 35 whenthe said live-steam connection .is open,

said last-mauled iiieans being automatically r opened when the pressurein the exhaust line rises to a predeterminedpoint, substantiallyas'set'forth. i t

5. In a steam system, thecombinatiomof apparatus employing steann'anexhaust line; leading therefrom, a loiv-pressure prime mover and aheater. connected to the exhaust valve therein and a valve infthe pipecarry i11 exhaust steam to the heater, said'valve operatingautomatically under predetermined conditions, substantially as setforth.

' line, a live-steam conn'ectionto the heater, 1,

6. In a steanrsystcm, the combination of apparatus employingsteam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, and a valve in the connection forcarrying exhaust steam to the heater operated automatically underpredetermined conditions to close said connection, substantially as setforth.

7. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, a pressure-rethIcing valve in theconnection for carryingexhaust steam to the heater and means for closingsaid connection under predetermined conditions, substantially as setforth.

8. in a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heatereminected'to the exhaust line, a valve in the connection for carryingexhaust steam to the heateroperated automatically under n'edetei'mincdconditions,

a live-steam connection to the heater and a press!ire-reducing valve insaid live-steam onnection, substantially as set forth.

9. in a steam system, the con'ibination of apparatus employing steam. anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, a pressure-reducing valve in theconnection for carrying exhaust steam to the heater, means for closingsaid connection when the pressure therein falls to a predeterlninedpoint, a live-stea1n connection to the heater, and a pressure-reducingvalve in the live-steam connection arranged to open the connectionautomatically when said firstnamed valve is closed; substantially as setforth.

10. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, so that the exhaust steam flows from saidapparatus to both the prime mover and the heater, and means for closingthe connection to the heater when the pressure therein drops to apredetermined amount,

- substantially as set forth.

11. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing'steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, so that the exhaust steam flows from saidapparatus .to both the prime mover and the heater, means for closing theconnection to the heater when the pressure therein drops to apredetermined amount, and automatically-operated means for supplyinglive-steam to the heater when theconnectior for carrying exhaust steamthereto is closed substantially as set forth. v

12. In a steam system, the combination oi apparatus employing steam, anexhaust'line leading therefrom, a; low ressure rime mover and a heaterconnecte to the e aust line, means for closing the connection of theexhaust line to the heater, a live steam connection to the heater, andmeans for opens ing the said live steamconnection when the connection ofthe exhaust line to the heater is closed to maintain the supply of steamto the heater under all conditions, substantially as set forth. v

13. In a steam system, the combination of apparatus employing steam, anexhaust line leading therefrom, a low-pressure prime mover and a heaterconnected to the exhaust line, and means for preventing the formation ofa vacuum in the passage for carry ing exhaust steam to the heater,substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this'l9th day of May, 1910.

' JOSEPH W. GAMBLE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT ,G. CLIFTON, W. A'rwoonMnnAnG.

